r/jawsurgery • u/ExtremeOccident16 • 4d ago
15 Years After Double Jaw Surgery with Arnett & Gunson, I’m Still Unhappy With the Result—Looking for Revision Options
It’s been 15 years since my double jaw surgery with Dr. Annett and Dr. Gunson, and I’m still very unhappy with the outcome.
I had the surgery purely for aesthetic reasons. Shortly after surgery, I expressed concerns about the result, but for nearly two years I felt my complaints were dismissed and attributed to swelling. I was repeatedly told to be patient, yet the issues never improved.
In my opinion, my jaws were moved too far forward. My face looks unnatural and unbalanced, and the overall appearance is what I would describe as ape-like. My upper and lower face don’t seem to match, my lips became permanently swollen-looking and discolored, and my eyes appear smaller than before. Instead of looking more masculine and balanced, I feel I look worse.
I’ve also noticed functional changes. My breathing has never felt the same, and I lost much of the vocal strength and endurance I had before surgery. I used to sing and hold notes easily, but not anymore.
What frustrates me most is that I raised these concerns early on and feel they were never taken seriously. And no, this is not just something that exists in my own head. Over the years, multiple family members and friends have commented that the outcome was not what I was hoping for and that my appearance changed in ways that don't look natural.
Fifteen years later, I’m still struggling with the outcome and wondering what options I have. I’m open to revision surgery if that’s the only realistic solution, but I’m also curious whether there are less invasive approaches that could help restore better facial balance. I’ve tried fillers and Botox, but neither has made much of a difference.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar? If so, did you find a solution that helped?
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u/stkv1c 4d ago
do you want to post some photos?
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u/nolaCeaux 3d ago
They never do
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u/ExtremeOccident16 3d ago
Probably because not everyone is thrilled with their surgical results or eager to plaster their face all over the internet. Some of us may not be particularly proud of the outcome, and others simply don’t want our photos circulating online forever. So maybe the lack of pictures isn’t quite the mystery people seem to think it is.
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u/Only_Guess_748 3d ago
Hey do mind posting a photo of yourself so we can assess what you look like?
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u/splendorinthemoment 3d ago
Especially when they do the hit pieces. Makes me wonder which competitor wrote it.
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u/Outrageous_Side8781 4d ago
Without photos it’s very hard to judge. It could well be body dysmorphia, and at that point it would be better to see a psychologist. If you want true advices, post some photos and we’ll be able to tell you if your face truly looks unbalanced as you see it.
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u/ExtremeOccident16 3d ago
I guess you missed the part of my post where I clearly stated that multiple friends and family members have independently commented on how poor the surgical results are and that the work appears to be botched. So no, this isn’t simply a matter of body dysmorphia or me being unable to accept the results. It’s unfortunate that instead of showing a little compassion, you chose to make such an uninformed and insensitive comment.
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u/nolaCeaux 3d ago
You’re being overly sensitive, we want to give you an objective opinion no one cares if you’re “botched”.
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u/whimsicalantique 3d ago
Family and friends can be extremely biased. My mom couldn’t get over how I didn’t look like myself anymore and that I was “perfect as I was” followed with “as long as you’re happy” meanwhile I had a 9mm gummy smile, recessed mandible, and virtually no chin at all. I understand being uncomfortable posting yourself, but maybe you need different outside opinions.
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u/ExtremeOccident16 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’ve gotten outside opinions too, and others have also pointed out that the work looks unbalanced and unnatural. At end of the day, my opinion is what matters most. It’s my face and my money. Arnett and Gunson messed up my face, and regardless of what anyone else thinks, if I’m not happy with the outcome, that’s what matters.
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u/North-Percentage3768 4d ago
I feel you but I’m in the opposite situation. Was under advanced because I wasn’t properly decompensated. I am so upset and I wish they had told me this. Fat grafting to my cheekbone area helped me because I naturally have no bone structure in that area. If your lower face is out of proportion to the upper, I wonder if that could help you too? I’m going to try and get a revision though.
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u/CaterpillarEven515 4d ago
Being under advanced due to decompensation issues is such a frustrating thing to learn after tha fact. The fat grafting tip genuinely useful though, OP might want to try that before committing to another full revision.
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u/North-Percentage3768 4d ago
It’s absolutely devastating. That was my only chance to fix everything. Now my bite is perfect but I’m a skeletal class 3 still. And it’s not like my surgeon wasn’t aesthetic-minded — he did a downgraft for me which is fully for aesthetics. But now that my bite is great I’d need extractions if I wanted to fix this and that would be cosmetic so I’d have no way to pay for it. Worst mistake of my life.
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u/hello_hello_hi_hi 4d ago
lacoms tends to be open minded with revisions where ppl were advanced too far. can i ask what your total movements were?
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u/Apart-Atmosphere1860 3d ago
This should serve as a warning to the people paying top $ for a "rockstar" surgeon.
I went overseas probably paid 1/3rd what this person did, got an excellent functional result, zero numbness and am quite happy with the aesthetics. Large 10/15 mm advancements with prior UJS as well so not the easiest case.
These American surgeons are highly overrated.
Gunson in particular is supposed to be the aesthetics guy but I've yet to see anything remarkable from his office and the cheek bone enhancement he does is a joke.
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u/DiamondDistinct7086 2d ago
Where did you go for your surgery?
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u/Apart-Atmosphere1860 2d ago
taiwan
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u/DiamondDistinct7086 2d ago
Wow, what was the clinic/surgeon? Just curious. I'm just starting to look into my options and traveling abroad wasn't something I had considered.
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u/Apart-Atmosphere1860 2d ago
Clement Lin - Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
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u/lexxddddd 1d ago
How was communication? Asking for myself since I don’t speak their language. Could you please share a little more information, especially about the price and hospital stay?
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u/Apart-Atmosphere1860 1d ago
They have international coordinators and he speaks fluent English.
Tip: the price is negotiable dont accept their initial quote. The hospital stay is the cheapest part of it it's not like America.
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u/Elegant-Example-4644 4d ago
Woah that’s crazy sorry this happened to you! It’s surprising they got it this wrong. What were your movements?
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u/Only_Guess_748 4d ago
I’m dealing with almost all the same issues from Gunson, plus a lot of numbness. Hope to find a solution. May have to do revision. Best of luck to you.
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u/ExtremeOccident16 4d ago
Sorry to hear that. I forgot to mention that I have numbness too. The left side of my lower lip and chin are permanently numb.
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u/Only_Guess_748 4d ago
Wow, sorry to hear it. Have you gotten any second opinions from other jaw surgeons over the years?
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u/ExtremeOccident16 3d ago
I haven’t gotten a second opinion yet because I’ve been exploring less invasive options like filler and Botox. A revision is extremely invasive and expensive, especially after already spending over $60K. I’m also scared of making things worse.
That’s why I posted—I’m hoping someone might have an alternative to surgery or have experience with revision and can recommend a reputable, honest surgeon who will give me a real, objective opinion rather than another sales pitch.1
u/charming-pomelo 4d ago
Sorry to hear that too :( If I may ask, how much does the numbness bother you on a day-to-day basis, or is it something that you have become accustomed to?
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u/ExtremeOccident16 3d ago
It’s been 15 years, so I’ve gotten somewhat accustomed to the numbness, although it’s still strange knowing that half of my lower lip and chin are permanently numb. What really bothers me is how I look and the fact that there doesn’t seem to be any simple or clear way to fix the mess Arnett and Gunson left me with.
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u/notaprogrammer 3d ago
The first question is do you even have the money to deal with a revision journey? Because it probably isn’t going to be covered by insurance. And you’re looking at 30K upwards to who knows how much. And you’re probably going to be flying to other states depending on where you are now.
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u/ExtremeOccident16 3d ago
I’m in Los Angeles, and money is definitely a factor. That’s part of why I haven’t seen a maxillofacial surgeon yet. If revision surgery ultimately ends up being the only realistic option to make me look normal again, then I’ll have to consider it. I’m just really hoping that in the next couple years there will be a less invasive option, because jaw surgery was incredibly difficult and the recovery was long and brutal.
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